Robe with implement-specific pockets

ABSTRACT

A robe apparatus has a garment with an upper body portion, a lower body portion, a right sleeve portion, and a left sleeve portion. The upper body portion substantially surrounds a torso of a user, while the lower body portion at least partially surrounding a pair of legs of the user. The right sleeve portion substantially surrounds a right arm of the user, and the left sleeve portion substantially surrounds a left arm of the user. A connector connects a right portion of the upper body portion to a left portion of the upper body portion. A plurality of implement-specific pockets is attached to a plurality of ease-of-access portions of an exterior of the garment. The plurality of implement-specific pockets comprises a first pocket that is positioned at a top portion of the exterior of the garment, and a second pocket that is positioned at a bottom portion.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

This disclosure generally relates to garments. More particularly, the disclosure relates to robes that are worn by users for use in a restroom.

2. General Background

Use of a shared-access restroom is quite common place in a variety of settings (e.g., gyms, spas, college dormitories, etc.). In particular, users in such settings will typically store their outdoor attire in a secure location (e.g., a locker) and proceed to use the showers, steam room, toilets, sinks, and the like while wearing an indoor garment (e.g., a towel).

A typical inconvenience for users in the foregoing settings is storage and use of implements that are necessary to perform various hygiene-related tasks. For example, if a user wants to take a shower after a workout in the gym, he or she will have to store his or her toothbrush in a locker, take a shower, and then retrieve the toothbrush after finishing the shower.

Adding to the foregoing inconvenience, the user will typically have multiple other items that he or she will want to use to perform the hygiene-related tasks. A conventional approach is to have a tray/basket in which to carry these items from a secure location (e.g., gym locker, college dormitory room, etc.) to the sink in the shared restroom. Yet, such trays/baskets are often cumbersome to use. Firstly, the items are often quite unorganized (i.e., all of the items are typically just bunched together) because the tray/basket typically has only one open area, leaving the user with having to scour through the tray/basket for each item. For example, a small item may be positioned toward the bottom of the tray/basket, necessitating the user's removal of most of the items just to find that one small item. Secondly, the tray/basket may be too small or too bulky to accommodate all of the specific hygiene-related items particular to the user. Finally, a sink countertop may not even have enough room to accommodate the tray/basket, leaving the user with either holding the tray/basket, or placing the tray/basket on the floor, while performing hygiene-related tasks; neither of which is conducive to sanitary, effective performance of hygiene-related tasks.

Accordingly, the conventional approach of a standard robe and/or towel with a tray/basked for hygiene-related items is cumbersome and inconvenient for use in a shared-access restroom environment for the performance of hygiene-related tasks.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a robe apparatus has a garment with an upper body portion, a lower body portion, a right sleeve portion, and a left sleeve portion. The upper body portion substantially surrounds a torso of a user, while the lower body portion at least partially surrounds a pair of legs of the user. Furthermore, the right sleeve portion substantially surrounds a right arm of the user, and the left sleeve portion substantially surrounds a left arm of the user.

A connector connects a right portion of the upper body portion to a left portion of the upper body portion.

Additionally, a plurality of implement-specific pockets is attached to a plurality of ease-of-access portions of an exterior of the garment. The plurality of implement-specific pockets comprises a first pocket that is positioned at a top portion of the exterior of the garment, and a second pocket that is positioned at a bottom portion of the exterior of the garment. Moreover, the first pocket has first pocket dimensions that are configured to receive a first implement such that the first implement occupies an area the first pocket that exceeds a first pocket lower threshold without exceeding a first pocket upper threshold. Also, the second pocket has second pocket dimensions that are configured to receive a second implement such that the second implement occupies an area the second pocket that exceeds a second pocket lower threshold without exceeding a second pocket upper threshold.

In another embodiment, the connector of the foregoing robe apparatus is a zipper, which connects a right portion of the upper body portion to a left portion of the upper body portion, as well as a right portion of the lower body portion to a left portion of the lower body portion. Additionally, each of the plurality of implement-specific pockets is enclosed with a corresponding enclosure mechanism. Each pocket location corresponds to each of the plurality of ease-of-access portions as determined by a shortest distance from a pocket in the plurality of implement-specific pockets to perform a hygiene-related task.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned features of the present disclosure will become more apparent with reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and in which:

FIG. 1A illustrates a user wearing the men's robe.

FIG. 1B illustrates the men's robe of FIG. 1A with depictions (in broken lines when not viewable from the exterior) for the items stored within the pockets.

FIG. 2A illustrates a female user wearing the women's robe.

FIG. 2B illustrates the women's robe of FIG. 2A with depictions (in broken lines when not viewable from the exterior) for the items stored within the pockets.

FIG. 3 illustrates a restroom environment, which may or may not be shared-access, in which the male user, as an example, utilizes the robe.

FIG. 4 illustrates how the male user may hang the men's robe in the restroom environment on a hook via a loop integrated into the men's robe.

FIG. 5A illustrates an example of a zipper mechanism that allows a zipper to be moved along a zipper track to connect a left portion of the men's robe to a right portion of the men's robe.

FIG. 5B illustrates a button mechanism, whereby a plurality of buttons is utilized to connect a left portion of the men's robe 100 to a right portion of the men's robe.

FIG. 6 illustrates the toothpaste pocket of the men's robe having a partial opening for a pump dispenser of the toothpaste to dissipate toothpaste.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A robe is provided with implement-specific pockets for use in a shared-access restroom environment. In particular, the robe is a garment that is specifically configured to have a plurality of pockets that have specific dimensions to allow for implements (e.g., hygiene-related tools, optometric tools, makeup tools, medical supplies, etc.) to be snugly fit within the robe without much movement. By minimizing movement of the implements, the robe allows for more comfortable movement of the user. Furthermore, the implement-specific pockets may be positioned (e.g., sewn, stitched, adhered) to the robe in a manner that allows for optimal ease-of-access to perform a particular hygiene-related task. For example, a contact lens pocket may be positioned toward the top portion of the robe to allow a user to access the contact lenses for placement on his or her eyes, while minimizing the possibility of the contact lens or the contact lens case falling if it were positioned further away from the eyes of the user, such as toward the bottom of the robe. Additionally, the robe may have non-implement-specific pockets to allow for miscellaneous items to be positioned within the robe. As a result, the robe provides flexibility to the user of having optimally positioned pockets for specific implements, while also having pockets for miscellaneous items.

Furthermore, the implement-specific pockets may have specific dimensions for the particular implements that they are configured to receive. By having such dimensions, the implement-specific pockets reduce the movement between the implements and the interior of the pockets; such reduced movement reduces the pressure applied to the body of the user (i.e., intermittent contact with the user while walking, additional weight pulling the robe downward, etc.), as well as potential noise, during movement of the user.

In practical terms, the user may use the robe for storage when in use or not in use. For example, the user may be a college student that stores his or her hygiene-related items in the robe when not in use in his or her dormitory room. The user may then conveniently wear the robe, along with the stored hygiene-related items, during the walk from his or her room to the shared-access restroom. If the user chooses to take a shower, the user may hang the robe, with the items, in proximity to the shower, rather than having to store the items in a locker or another secure location during the shower. The user may then wear the robe and walk to a sink for convenient performance of hygiene-related tasks. As opposed to having to rely on a tray/basket, which may not fit within a sink area, the user may comfortably remove items as needed from the pockets of the robe while performing the hygiene-related tasks.

As another example, the robe may be conveniently stored in a travelling container (e.g., suitcase) for storage of the implements. For instance, the user may store the implements in the pockets of the robe, fold the robe, and place it in luggage for travel.

Additionally, the robe may be particularly helpful for the elderly. Rather than having to make accentuated gross motor movements, the robe allows the elderly to conveniently carry items for performing hygiene-related tasks with significantly less effort than needed when carrying a tray full of unorganized, and potentially heavy when stored in a tray, items.

FIGS. 1A and 1 B illustrate a men's robe 100 for implement-specific pockets. In particular, FIG. 1A illustrates a user 101 wearing the men's robe 100. The men's robe 100 may be a garment that is fabricated from a variety of materials (e.g., cloth, fleece, silk, etc.). Furthermore, the garment may have an upper body portion 150, a lower body portion 151, a right sleeve portion 152, and a left sleeve portion 153. The upper body portion 150 substantially surrounds the torso of the user 101 (i.e., covering the back and most of the frontal area of the user 101). Furthermore, the right sleeve portion 152 and the left sleeve portion 153 substantially surround the arms of the user 101 (i.e., covering most of the upper arms and forearms of the user 101).

The robe 100 has a plurality of implement-specific pockets that are utilized to hold specific implements, such as hygiene-related products, while minimizing movement of those implements. In one embodiment, the implement-specific pockets are positioned on the robe 100 for optimal ease-of-access to perform the given hygiene-related task. For example, an eyeglasses pocket 106 may be positioned toward the top of the upper body portion 150 given that such location is proximate to the head of the user 101 on which eyeglasses are to be positioned. Furthermore, in another embodiment, subsets of the plurality of implement-specific pockets are grouped together to provide further convenience for a particular task. For example, a contact lens pocket 108 may be grouped with the eyeglasses pocket 106 to allow a user to conveniently remove his or her contact lenses and proceed with use of his or her eyeglasses. As another example, a toothbrush pocket 116 may be positioned next to a toothpaste pocket 114 to allow the male user 101 to conveniently perform the task of brushing his teeth, all from the same region of the robe 100.

Other examples of pockets in the upper body portion 150 include a contact lens solution pocket 112 being positioned in proximity to the contact lens pocket 108, as well as a deodorant pocket 110 being positioned in proximity to an armpit of the user 101.

Furthermore, an implement-specific pocket may be positioned on one of the upper body portion 150, the lower body portion 151, the right sleeve portion 152, and the left sleeve portion 153 based on weight of the particular implement. For example, a shampoo pocket 124, a conditioner pocket 126, and a cologne pocket 128 may be positioned in the lower body portion 151 to minimize the weight-bearing load of the heavier items on the back of the user 101. Additional pockets, which may not fit well in the upper body portion 150, may also be positioned in the lower body portion 151. For example, a comb pocket 118, a cotton swab pocket 120, and a shaving cream pocket 122 may be positioned in the lower body portion 151, although these pockets potentially could be positioned elsewhere on the robe 100.

Moreover, an implement-specific pocket may be positioned on one of the upper body portion 150, the lower body portion 151, the right sleeve portion 152, and the left sleeve portion 153 based on safety of the user 101. For example, a razor pocket 102 may be positioned on the right sleeve portion 152, or potentially on the left sleeve portion 153, to prevent the razor from pressing against the body of the user 101.

Additionally, an implement-specific pocket may be positioned on one of the upper body portion 150, the lower body portion 151, the right sleeve portion 152, and the left sleeve portion 153 based on use of the implement while stored in the robe 100. For example, a smartphone pocket 104 may be positioned on the left sleeve portion 153, and may have a transparent material that allows for use of the smartphone by the user 101 while being stored within the smartphone pocket 104. In one embodiment, the smartphone pocket 104 is waterproof.

Various types of enclosure mechanisms (e.g., zippers, magnets, clips, hook-and-loop fasteners, etc.) may be used to enclose the various implements within the pockets. Alternatively, the pockets may remain in an open state.

The pockets may be configured to have dimensions to receive an implement such that the implement occupies an area of the pocket that exceeds a particular pocket's lower threshold without exceeding the pocket's upper threshold. For example, the lower threshold may be the amount of space necessitated to accommodate the minimum size of the conventional implement; whereas the upper threshold may be the amount of space necessitated to accommodate the largest size of the conventional implement. As an alternative, the upper threshold may be established to ensure that some additional room is present within the pocket. For example, the upper threshold may be established to be a percentage of the pocket area (e.g., eighty to ninety percent of the pocket), to allow some room in the pocket for a user to reach into the pocket and remove the item, as well as for different sized implements.

Optionally, a belt 140 may be utilized to close the robe 100. Alternatively, or additionally, a connection mechanism may be utilized to connect a portion of the right side of the robe 100 to a portion of the left side of the robe 100.

Furthermore, some pockets may be non-implement-specific. For example, a pocket may be positioned in the lower portion 151 to allow for the storage of miscellaneous items. Additionally, although the pockets illustrated in FIG. 1A are depicted on the exterior of the robe 100, in an alternative embodiment, one or more of the pockets may be integrated into an interior portion.

FIG. 1B illustrates the men's robe 100 of FIG. 1A with depictions (in broken lines when not viewable from the exterior) for the items stored within the pockets. For example, the contact lens pocket 108 may store a contact lens case 109, the eyeglasses pocket 106 may store eyeglasses 107, the deodorant pocket 110 may store deodorant 111, the toothbrush pocket 116 may store a toothbrush 117, the toothpaste pocket 114 may store toothpaste 115, the contact solution pocket 112 may store contact solution 113, the comb pocket 118 may store a comb 119, the cotton swab pocket 120 may store one or more cotton swabs 121, the cologne pocket 128 may store a cologne bottle 129, the shampoo pocket 124 may store a shampoo bottle 125, the conditioner pocket 126 may store a conditioner bottle 127, the shaving cream pocket 122 may store a bottle of shaving cream 123, the razor pocket 102 may store a razor 103, and the smartphone pocket 105 may store a smartphone 104.

The implements illustrated herein are provided only as examples. Various other types of pockets and implements may be utilized.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a woman's robe 200 for implement-specific pockets. In particular, FIG. 2A illustrates a female user 201 wearing a women's robe 200. Although some of the pockets may be similar to that of the men's robe 100, others may be different based on different hygiene-related tasks, such as placement of makeup. For example, the woman's robe 200 may have an eyeliner pocket 210, a mascara pocket 212, and a lipstick pocket 214 positioned toward the top of an upper body portion 250 of the robe 200. Additionally, a compact pocket 208 for a compact may be positioned on the other side of the upper body portion 250. Moreover, a brush pocket 206 may be positioned on a right sleeve portion 252. (The illustrated positions of the pockets are provided only as examples for positioning of the pockets. For example, the brush pocket 206 may be positioned on the upper body portion 250.) Accordingly, the female user 201 may access the makeup implements in close proximity to her face for application of the makeup.

Additionally, as examples, the robe 200 may have additional pockets, such as a soap pocket 216, a deodorant pocket 219, a toothpaste pocket 220, a toothbrush pocket 222, a perfume bottle pocket 230, a shampoo pocket 232, a conditioner pocket 234, a shaving cream pocket 236, a razor pocket 202, and a smartphone pocket 204. Furthermore, the robe 200 may have various holsters, such as a brush holster 224 and a hairdryer holster 228. (Various partial enclosures (e.g., holsters) or full enclosures (e.g., pockets) may be used in place of one another.)

FIG. 2B illustrates the women's robe 200 of FIG. 2A with depictions (in broken lines when not viewable from the exterior) for the items stored within the pockets. For example, the compact pocket 208 may store a compact 209, the eyeliner pocket 210 may store eyeliner 211, the mascara pocket 212 may store mascara 213, the lipstick pocket 214 may store lipstick 215, the soap pocket 216 may store soap 217, the deodorant pocket 218 may store deodorant 219, the toothbrush pocket 220 may store toothpaste 221, the toothbrush pocket 222 may store the toothbrush 223, the perfume pocket 230 may store a perfume bottle 231, the shampoo pocket 232 may store a shampoo bottle 233, the conditioner pocket 234 may store a conditioner bottle 235, the shaving cream pocket 236 may store a shaving cream bottle 237, the brush holster 224 may store a brush 225, and the hairdryer holster 228 may store the hairdryer 229.

Although some different pockets are illustrated on the men's robe 100 as opposed to the women's robe 200, such pockets may be utilized on the other robe, and vice versa. For example, the soap pocket 216 positioned on the women's robe 200 may be positioned on the men's robe 100.

Optionally, a belt 240 may be utilized to close the robe 100. Alternatively, or additionally, a connection mechanism may be utilized to connect a portion of the right side of the robe 200 to a portion of the left side of the robe 200.

FIG. 3 illustrates a restroom environment 300, which may or may not be shared-access as opposed to private, in which the male user 101, as an example, utilizes the men's robe 100. For instance, as depicted, the male user 101 may easily remove the toothbrush 117 from the toothbrush pocket 116, as well as the toothpaste 115 from the toothpaste pocket 114, to brush his teeth. (The men's robe 100 is illustrated only as an example—the women's robe 200 may be utilized in the restroom environment 300 instead.)

Additionally, FIG. 4 illustrates how the male user 101 may hang the men's robe 100 in the restroom environment 300 on a hook 301 via a loop 141 integrated into the men's robe 100. For example, the male user 101 may hang the men's robe 100 when in the shower. As another example, the male user 101 may hang the men's robe 100 in his bedroom when the men's robe 100 is not in use, thereby allowing for convenient storage of hygiene-related items all in one place for instant movement toward a restroom.

Although various connectors are described herein, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, for adhering one portion of the robe to another, other types of connectors may be utilized. For example, connectors such as zippers, buttons, hook-and-loop fasteners, or the like may be used instead of the connectors. FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate examples of various connectors. For instance, FIG. 5A illustrates an example of a zipper mechanism that allows a zipper 401 to be moved along a zipper track 400 to connect a left portion of the men's robe 100 to a right portion of the men's robe 100. Additionally, FIG. 5B illustrates a button mechanism, whereby a plurality of buttons 402 a-g is utilized to connect a left portion of the men's robe 100 to a right portion of the men's robe 100. As an example, the buttons may be adhered via magnetic connectors, slits, etc. (The men's robe 100 is illustrated only as an example—the women's robe 200 may also utilize similar connector mechanisms.)

Moreover, users of the robes 100 or 200 potentially may perform hygiene-related tasks from the robes 100 or 200 themselves. For example, FIG. 6 illustrates the toothpaste pocket 130 of the men's robe 100 having a partial opening for a pump dispenser of the toothpaste 131 to dissipate toothpaste. Similar types of configurations may be utilized for other pockets or holsters, thereby allowing the male user 101 of the men's robe 100 or the female user 201 of the women's robe 200 to perform hygiene-related tasks without removal of some of the implements from the implement-specific pockets.

Furthermore, the robe described herein is not limited to use in a shared-access restroom. For instance, a user may want to use the robe in the convenience of his or her own home when using his or her own private restroom.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the various adaptations and modifications of the embodiments of the apparatuses described herein may be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the present apparatuses. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the present apparatuses may be practiced other than as specifically described herein. 

I claim:
 1. A robe apparatus comprising: a garment having an upper body portion, a lower body portion, a right sleeve portion, and a left sleeve portion, the upper body portion substantially surrounding a torso of a user, the lower body portion at least partially surrounding a pair of legs of the user, the right sleeve portion substantially surrounding a right arm of the user, and the left sleeve portion substantially surrounding a left arm of the user; a connector that connects a right portion of the upper body portion to a left portion of the upper body portion; and a plurality of implement-specific pockets attached to a plurality of ease-of-access portions of an exterior of the garment, the plurality of implement-specific pockets comprising a first pocket that is positioned at a top portion of the exterior of the garment, the plurality of implement-specific pockets comprising a second pocket that is positioned at a bottom portion of the exterior of the garment, the first pocket having first pocket dimensions that are configured to receive a first implement such that the first implement occupies an area the first pocket that exceeds a first pocket lower threshold without exceeding a first pocket upper threshold, the second pocket having second pocket dimensions that are configured to receive a second implement such that the second implement occupies an area the second pocket that exceeds a second pocket lower threshold without exceeding a second pocket upper threshold.
 2. The robe apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connector further connects a right portion of the lower body portion to a left portion of the lower body portion.
 3. The robe apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connector is a zipper.
 4. The robe apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connector is a magnet.
 5. The robe apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first implement is selected from the group consisting of: a contact lens case, a package of ear swabs, a comb, and a brush.
 6. The robe apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second implement is selected from the group consisting of: a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a bar of soap.
 7. The robe apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of implement-specific pockets further comprises a third pocket that is positioned at a sleeve portion of the exterior of the right sleeve, the third pocket having third pocket dimensions that are configured to receive a third implement such that the third implement occupies an area the third pocket that exceeds a third pocket lower threshold without exceeding a third pocket upper threshold.
 8. The robe apparatus of claim 7, wherein the third implement is selected from the group consisting of: a razor, a pair of scissors, tweezers, and a nail clipper.
 9. The robe apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of implement-specific pockets are sewn onto the garment.
 10. The robe apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more non-implement-specific pockets that are attached to the exterior of the garment in a portion of the exterior of the garment other than the plurality of implement-specific pockets.
 11. The robe apparatus of claim 1, wherein each location corresponding to each of the plurality of ease-of-access portions is determined by a shortest distance from a pocket in the plurality of implement-specific pockets to perform a hygiene-related task.
 12. The robe apparatus of claim 11, wherein each location corresponding to said each of the plurality of ease-of-access portions is further determined by an optimal safety position with respect to the user.
 13. The robe apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of implement-specific pockets is enclosed with a corresponding enclosure mechanism.
 14. A robe apparatus comprising: a garment having an upper body portion, a lower body portion, a right sleeve portion, and a left sleeve portion, the upper body portion substantially surrounding a torso of a user, the lower body portion at least partially surrounding a pair of legs of the user, the right sleeve portion substantially surrounding a right arm of the user, and the left sleeve portion substantially surrounding a left arm of the user; a zipper that connects a right portion of the upper body portion to a right portion of the upper body portion, the zipper further connecting a left portion of the lower body portion to a left portion of the upper body portion; and a plurality of implement-specific pockets attached to a plurality of ease-of-access portions of an exterior of the garment, the plurality of implement-specific pockets comprising a first pocket that is positioned at a top portion of the exterior of the garment, the plurality of implement-specific pockets comprising a second pocket that is positioned at a bottom portion of the exterior of the garment, the first pocket having first pocket dimensions that are configured to receive a first implement such that the first implement occupies an area the first pocket that exceeds a first pocket lower threshold without exceeding a first pocket upper threshold, the second pocket having second pocket dimensions that are configured to receive a second implement such that the second implement occupies an area the second pocket that exceeds a second pocket lower threshold without exceeding a second pocket upper threshold, wherein each of the plurality of implement-specific pockets is enclosed with a corresponding enclosure mechanism, wherein each location corresponding to each of the plurality of ease-of-access portions is determined by a shortest distance from a pocket in the plurality of implement-specific pockets to perform a hygiene-related task.
 15. The robe apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first implement is selected from the group consisting of: a contact lens case, a package of ear swabs, a comb, and a brush.
 16. The robe apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second implement is selected from the group consisting of: a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a bar of soap.
 17. The robe apparatus of claim 14, wherein the plurality of implement-specific pockets further comprises a third pocket that is positioned at a sleeve portion of the exterior of the right sleeve, the third pocket having third pocket dimensions that are configured to receive a third implement such that the third implement occupies an area the third pocket that exceeds a third pocket lower threshold without exceeding a third pocket upper threshold.
 18. The robe apparatus of claim 17, wherein the third implement is selected from the group consisting of: a razor, a pair of scissors, tweezers, and a nail clipper.
 19. The robe apparatus of claim 14, wherein the plurality of implement-specific pockets are sewn onto the garment.
 20. The robe apparatus of claim 14, further comprising one or more non-implement-specific pockets that are attached to the exterior of the garment in a portion of the exterior of the garment other than the plurality of implement-specific pockets. 